Cyclones face Pine Bluff tonightRussellville Cyclones head coach Jeff Weaver's message to his team after Friday's 36-29 win over the Jonesboro Hurricane was already looking ahead to the second round of the Class 6A state playoffs. "Pine Bluff is not as athletic as that team," Weaver said, motioning to the defeated Hurricane. "They are beatable." The Pine Bluff Zebras can seem a little insurmountable on the surface. The Zebras (9-1) have outscored their opponents 397-159 and ...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
sports@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Bayer, Milnick, Johnston headline All-GAC teamArkansas Tech's Amanda Milnick was named GAC Player of the Year, as well as GAC Setter of the Year, while Lexie Johnston earned GAC Freshman of the Year and Kristy Bayer was voted GAC Coach of the Year, announced by the Great American Conference during the volleyball awards banquet Wednesday evening. Tech took home four of the six superlative awards, placed six on All-GAC teams and had four named scholar athletes. Following an undefeated regul...

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Lady Pirates pound BigelowBIGELOW -- The Dover Lady Pirates opened their season with a 41-39 win over the Bigelow Lady Panthers on Saturday. Dover led 15-7 after the first quarter and 24-17 at halftime. After the third quarter, the Lady Pirates were up 33-29. "This was a nice opening win for us," Dover head coach Charlie Melton said. "Anytime you can go out on the road and get a win, it's a good thing. I'm very proud we secured it and look to build upon it as we head i...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
sports@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Lady Apaches speed past Nemo VistaOZARK -- Pottsville's Aspen Campbell scored 10 points to lead the Lady Apaches to a 57-28 win over Nemo Vista on Monday in the Ozark Tournament. Pottsville soared to a 42-10 halftime lead. Campbell scored seven of her 10 points in the first quarter alone. Madi Rust sank two treys on her way to nine points on the night. Pottsville's Hanamarie Savage had nine points, a rebound and a steal. Sophia Hampton had five points, three rebounds and two s...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
sports@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

A-Tech opens GAC play todayArkansas Tech University will open the Great American Conference portion of its 2017-18 men's and women's basketball schedules this week by traveling to Oklahoma for a pair of doubleheaders. The Golden Suns and the Wonder Boys will face East Central University at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. tonight in Ada before traveling on to Durant for a 1 and 3 p.m. doubleheader against Southeastern Oklahoma State University on Saturday. About the Golden Suns -- Ar...

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Wonder Boys accept bid to Live United BowlArkansas Tech University has accepted an invitation to play in a postseason football bowl game for the second time in the last three years. The Wonder Boys (8-3) will face the Pittsburg State University Gorillas (7-4) in the 2017 Agent Barry Live United Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 2, at Arkansas High School in Texarkana. Kickoff is scheduled for noon. General admission tickets ($10 adults/$4 students) are available for purchase at the Agent Barry L...

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Seventh-grade Apaches win Pope County tourneyTHE COURIER / Submitted Seventh-grade Apaches win Pope County tourney The Pottsville seventh-grade Apaches won the Pope County Tournament in Atkins for the eighth year in a row. Leading scorers were Kaleb Metcal with 14 and Carson Palmer with six. The Apaches beat Atkins 28-18 in the final.

RHS swim opens season in CabotThe Russellville Cyclones and Lady Cyclones swim teams opened their season in the Cabot Classic Invitational on Nov. 3. The Lady Cyclones finished second with a team score of 292. The meet was won by Cabot with 654. Russellville had 11 swimmers in competition in the women's events. "They all swam very well for a first meet," Cyclones head coach Gary Knudsen said. Katie Fox led Russellville, with contributions coming from Lauren Gwaltney, Laure...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
sports@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Suns open with win vs. LaneFive Arkansas Tech players registered double-figure points in leading the Golden Suns (1-0) to a convincing 86-49 season-opening non-conference victory over Lane (0-1) this Sunday afternoon at Tech's Tucker Coliseum. How it happened Arkansas Tech jumped out to a 17-1 lead six minutes into the contest and led by 21 points (28-7) after the first quarter with senior forward Cheyenne North's 10 points leading the way. The Golden Suns' extended the...

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Suns volleyball climbs to No. 8After clinching a perfect 32-0 regular season record and the overall top seed in the upcoming Great American Conference volleyball championships, Arkansas Tech has moved up one spot to No. 8 in week 11's AVCA Division II Coaches Top 25 poll. Arkansas Tech (32-0, 16-0 GAC) claims its highest ranking in program history, and with victories over Harding and Ouachita Baptist, stands as one of just two undefeated teams remaining in all of Division I...

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RHS swim gets scoreboardRHS swim team getsscoreboard Several contributors came together to provide $90,000 for a new scoreboard for the Russellville High School swim team inside the Russellville Aquatic Center. Contributors were Beacon Tire, Saint Mary's Regional Health System, First State Bank and Russellville Tourism and Visitor Center. Pictured are Charlie Blanchard, Chip Blanchard and Toni Laws of First State Bank, Christie Graham with Russellville Tourism, Mayor...

Jr. Apaches win Pope County TournamentATKINS -- The Pottsville Junior Apaches won the Pope County Tournament on Saturday with a 50-14 win over the Atkins Junior Red Devils. Atkins led 14-6 in the first quarter and 30-8 at halftime. After the third quarter, the Junior Apaches were up 50-14. "It was good for us to get to play a couple games finally," Pottsville head coach Garrett Hill said. "We needed to play against some other teams so we can see what we need to work on. The guys p...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
sports@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Apaches, Lady Apaches race past Lake HamiltonPOTTSVILLE -- The Pottsville Apaches opened their season with a 61-44 win over the Lake Hamilton Wolves on Thursday inside George Jones Gymnasium. Pottsville (1-0) led 16-10 after the first quarter but trailed 32-29 at halftime. "We were so excited to get the season started, we made some uncharacteristic mistakes in the first half," said head coach Shane Thurman after the game. "I thought we settled down in the second half and played more inte...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
sports@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Lady Wildcats improve to 2-0COAL HILL -- The Hector Lady Wildcats slipped past the Paris Lady Eagles in the second game of the Johnson County Westside Classic on Wednesday. Hector led 13-6 after the first quarter and 25-13 at halftime. After the third quarter, the Lady Wildcats went up 34-27. "The girls shot the ball well last night in the first half with help off the bench," said head coach Luke McAnulty. "For us, the key to the game again was in rebounding." Hector was...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
sports@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Lady Lizards open season with victoryDARDANELLE -- The Lady Sand Lizards opened their season with a 43-19 win over the Jessieville Lady Mustangs on Tuesday. Dardanelle led 12-4 in the first quarter and 19-8 at halftime. After the third quarter, the Lady Sand Lizards were up 29-13. Dardanelle was led in scoring by Darby Brown with 13 points. Janna Rhinehart scored 11 points. Taylor Lawrence led in rebounds with five, followed by Jayci Metcalf with four. Jessieville was led in scor...

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Courier staff reportsThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Holiday bucks, ducks and fishThe approaching Thanksgiving break is always a welcome sight for folks who actually get one, and it is especially enjoyable if you are an outdoor enthusiast in the Natural State. Just as the Thanksgiving week arrives and school lets out, it will be the second weekend of the modern gun hunt and duck season will be getting underway all across Arkansas. It may not be the first full week of the season for deer hunters, but there will be some excel...